Khorezm poverty rate falls to 3.9%, Mirziyoyev told

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan’s Khorezm region has reduced its poverty rate from 6.7% to 3.9% since the beginning of 2026, while the financial situation of 127,000 people from 29,000 families included in the Social Register has improved, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was told during a review of plans to raise household incomes, create jobs and reduce poverty in the region.

Since the beginning of the year, incomes have increased for 162,000 residents, while 29,000 people have secured permanent jobs and informal employment has been formalized for another 37,000 people.

Support for low-income families

As part of measures to support low-income families, 126,600 people from 28,900 families received more than 40,000 different services. These included permanent employment for 12,400 people, support to start businesses for 23,600 people, financial assistance for 3,300 people and vocational training for 1,100 people.

At the same time, Khorezm still has 39,000 unemployed people, while another 102,000 are working abroad. Mirziyoyev identified a mismatch between available vacancies and applicants’ qualifications as one of the region’s main problems.

The region currently has more than 50,000 vacancies, but some remain unfilled because of a shortage of workers with the required skills.

In response, Mirziyoyev instructed officials to review the vocational training system and align it more closely with labor market needs. According to surveys, 63% of university students believe they do not receive enough practical skills during their studies.

The president instructed secondary specialized and vocational education institutions to strengthen practical training and called for universities to use their capacity to train people in professions in demand. In particular, universities were proposed to hold afternoon classes focused on developing students’ professional and practical skills.

Funding and job creation

A total of 6.4 trillion soums has been allocated for measures to reduce poverty and increase employment in the region. Of the 2.1 trillion soums in resources provided by commercial banks, 1.5 trillion soums in loans were directed to projects in mahallas. As a result, all mahallas in the region received access to financial support.

The president said banks’ contribution to reducing poverty and unemployment should be assessed based on concrete results at the local level. Banks were instructed to act as “project factories”, turning the opportunities and initiatives of mahalla residents into viable business projects.

By the end of the year, Khorezm plans to lift 81,000 people from poverty across 18,000 low-income families and provide permanent jobs for 39,000 unemployed people.

Investment projects will be implemented in industry, services, tourism, transport, agriculture and construction to achieve these targets. Micro-industrial centers are expected to create 250 new enterprises, while projects involving mahalla bankers will be expanded and additional measures will be taken to create jobs and formalize business activity.

Projects in poultry farming, livestock, fish farming, furniture production, greenhouse farming and crop production are expected to establish 36 cooperatives. They are planned to involve 15,800 low-income families from 201 mahallas.

In addition, 70 “locomotive” projects will be implemented in 12 anchor mahallas and 38 adjacent mahallas. They are expected to create 1,100 jobs. A total of 650 billion soums will be allocated for entrepreneurial initiatives, enabling the implementation of 2,500 microprojects.

Development of Shikhbogi mahalla

The meeting also reviewed a development plan for Shikhbogi mahalla in Yangiarik district and the neighboring Karmish, Sherobod and Kattabog mahallas. The area is home to 18,200 people and has 319 business entities.

Plans include creating an industrial zone, a micro-industrial center, a modern market and service facilities, establishing an intensive orchard, and launching livestock and poultry complexes. Improvements are also planned for local roads, pedestrian infrastructure, electricity and water supply systems.

A master plan for the area will be developed with the participation of foreign consulting organizations, while local designers will receive additional training. The plan is expected to create 1,500 stable jobs and increase household incomes by 20–30%.

Following the presentation, Mirziyoyev instructed officials to review existing mechanisms for working with vulnerable groups and prepare proposals to take Uzbekistan’s poverty-reduction policy to a new stage. The proposals are expected to be discussed at a separate videoconference.